It was sold as part of The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame, with drumming equipment belonging to fellow Beatle Sir Ringo Starr also among the record-breaking sales. The collection consisted of music, film and sports memorabilia and went under the hammer on Thursday at Christie’s New York auction house. Formed in the 1960s, the Beatles, the best-selling musical act of all time and made up of Lennon, Sir Ringo, Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison, achieved 18 UK number one singles and 15 UK number one albums. The three-piece drum kit sold for 2,393,000 dollars (£1,804,700) and briefly broke the record for the most expensive drum set sold, until a drum head which was part of his second Ludwig kit sold in the next lot for 2,881,000 dollars (£2,173,095). Sir Ringo’s first drum kit (Christie’s Images Ltd 2026/PA)Also among the items for sale was memorabilia from American musician Kurt Cobain, the founder of grunge band Nirvana.

Source: The Times March 13, 2026 13:04 UTC